January 21st, 2013 Art Feierman
Greetings, Yes, projector owners, Our time has almost come. It is time for us to prepare, to consider, to plan our home theater – and home entertainment future. 4K is almost upon us, and 3D is being taken more and more seriously by more than a few of the greatest Directors out there. This conversation addresses both 4K – Ultra-HD, and 3D, and the impact of both together.
Let’s consider that thought in terms of some of today’s great directors, and consider who’s directing 3D movies. Although I’m skipping most Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, Home Theater Projector issues, Industry, Movies Related, Opinion | 4 Comments »
July 2nd, 2011 Art Feierman
Hi! OK, RonJ’s own blog is up and running. As promised, therefore, I’m deleting it from here (with a link to his first blog article on his own blog: Projectors: The Technical Side… This blog is Titled: Moving to 3D Click to enjoy.
A couple of folks posted comments to this blog. I had asked to wait until RonJ’s was up. OK, bottom line, a couple of you, that I suggested post your comments on Ron’s blog, instead reposted on this one, but addressed to Ron. Ron has no access to my blog, other than as a reader. Please (Peter, and one other) repost on to Ron’s blog, at the address above.
Or if you prefer to jump to his blog’s homepage: http://www.projectorreviews.com/projector-technical-blog/
Posted in 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, About our website, Blu-ray, Home Theater Projector issues, Opinion, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
July 1st, 2011 Art Feierman
Visit Ron’s blog, “Home Theater and Projectors: The Technical Side” now!
Hi everyone,
It’s time for me to introduce another new blogger on our site. Welcome Ron Jones, below he’s provided a brief introduction to himself, and tomorrow I’ll be posting his first serious blog on the technical side of projectors and related home theater.
I’ve asked him to write a short intro, for me to post here. After that, I want to tell you a bit about what we’re up to, blog wise, and why Ron’s starting to blog for us. So, here’s Ron:
Greetings all:
My name is Ron Jones and I am very pleased to have been invited by Art to contribute to Projector Reviews with a new blog focused on home theater video technology with an emphasis on new technologies, such as 3D, and associated issues/considerations. My background is as an Electrical Engineer (MSEE) with 30+ years professional experience and as a home theater owner/enthusiast for 35+ years. My home theaters Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, About our website, Blu-ray, gaming and Game projectors, Home Theater Projector issues, Industry, Opinion | 2 Comments »
June 26th, 2011 Art Feierman
The ViewSonic VP3D1 3D processor earns our Special Interest Award!
Eureka! It works!
I’m talking about ViewSonic‘s VP-3D1. What is it? What works? The VP3D1 lets you watch 1080p 3D content from Blu-ray 3D discs and other, including HDTV sources, on 3D projectors that aren’t currently able to do so. It’s the magical device that changes the range of capabilities of those relatively low cost first and second generation 3D projectors sporting 720p and similar native resolutions such as WXGA. For lack of better terminology, let’s call the ViewSonic VP-3D1 a 3D processor. That seems to make sense. and, that’s what ViewSonic calls it.
VP3D1 - brings Blu-ray 3D, and 1080p 3D HDTV to low cost 3D projectors
The VP3D1 has an MSRP in the US of $299, but street price seems to be mostly around $249 based on a quick online search. That makes it a very reasonably priced add on to your system, considering the benefits delivered.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Games and Gaming, 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, gaming and Game projectors, New Projector Reviews, Products | 17 Comments »
June 20th, 2011 Art Feierman
Greetings! I mentioned the Optoma HD33 the other day, when I wrote about the unofficial HD8300, I said that there was also supposed to be an HD33 projector or it might be an HD3300. Well, with much digging – that is – searching the internet. Optoma’s been no help at all, in this case. I have learned a lot more. I’ve even laid my hands on a preliminary data sheet. If you would like to check that out, Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, gaming and Game projectors, New Projector Reviews, Products | 18 Comments »
March 8th, 2011 Art Feierman
Greetings,
VPL-VW90ES - 2D and 3D Projector
I’m back in 3D projector heaven, thanks to the arrival of the Sony VPL-VW90ES, Sony’s $10,000 replacement for the VW85. The VW90ES brings you 3D in a package claiming 1000 lumens. It doesn’t deliver on all of them, coming up typically short (few companies hit their claims). No matter, here’s a taste of what I’ve learned.
First, no question about it, with the same setup, this Sony VPL-VW90ES, was significantly brighter than the JVC DLA-RS60 we had here a couple of weeks ago. Of course that projector was expected to be brighter than the Sony VW90ES, since it claimed 1300 lumens. We sent it back thinking we got a bad one, but so far, still waiting on JVC for another. I kept the screen size small so far, for 3D viewing, to about 80″ diagonal, for 3D viewing, and it wasn’t bright, but it was definitely good enough for some really impressive viewing. I’ve yet to see if the Sony’s bright enough to fill my 106 inch screen (same Carada Brilliant White surface, up in the theatre. (1.4 gain).
Actually, I’m not hopeful. Oh, it will likely be adequate with a nice, new lamp, but after 1000 hours on the bulb… Brightness is going to be a concern with all 3D capable projectors until the manufacturers start mostly tripling the typical brightness of today’s home theater projectors. The Sony’s brightest measurement was just about 800 lumens.
But, the Sony is first, and foremost a 2D projector, and while I’ve watched only minutes, so far, in 2D, it seems to be very much like my recollections of the VW85, but a bit brighter. And that’s a very good thing (especially for 3D). Black levels are again, very “ultra high contrast” and while still not a match for the JVC competition, the 90ES should pretty much be able to hold it’s own with all but a very few of the other ultra high contrast projectors.
Nothing wrong with the Sony’s blacks, so if the roughly 50% brightness advantage (measured) of the Sony (compared to the JVC) turns out to be accurate, I do believe most people wanting 2D and 3D, will opt for the Sony over the JVC, with sheer horsepower for 3D trumping a black level advantage. Of course, if the JVC’s turn out to be brighter than our first look… meantime, there have been mentions by owners of RS50 and RS60 (or their HD series equivalents), on the web also reporting low brightness measurements. We’ll get it all sorted out.
I digress. If we forget about the 3D for a moment, and you want to learn a whole lot more about the VW90ES, try our full review of the Sony VW85 last year. The VPL-VW90ES review will publish next week – target date is March 14th!
That’s it for now. Got to finish writing up the Runco LS-10d review. -art
PS. Although 3D is still rough around the edges, I have to tell you I’ve been watching some spectacular and interesting 3D content of late. I’ll recommend the Blu-ray 3D Tahiti disc. Not just great looking footage, but lots of surprising high quality 3D graphics you would never expect. Very cool. As to the surfing shots, try standing 4 feet from the screen with your glasses on… whoa!
Posted in 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, New Projector Reviews, Opinion, Products | 7 Comments »
October 23rd, 2010 Art Feierman
Greetings all you fans of projectors!
Let me say, this is a strange year. Normally by the later part of October each year, I’m knee deep in new projectors – for home theater, to review. This year, seems we’re off to a late start. Of the new projectors reviewed so far – the Mitsubishi HC4000 projector, the Sanyo PLV-Z4000 projector, and the Epson Home Cinema 8350 projector, are all updates from those projector manufacturers’ key projectors in last year’s line-up.
On the other hand, there are a number of essentially new projectors to review this fall, in which I’ll include any home projector that is 3D ready. Coming up, when available, will be projectors from JVC’s new 3D RS projectors, the RS40, RS50, and RS60, as well as the HD250 which should be most similar to the older RS15.
Epson will have their R series projectors (no, not 3D)- all new, but like the JVC projectors it’s probably a few more weeks before those are available to reviewers.
So, you ask, what’s next:
This weekend the last of the pico projector reviews goes live – the AAXA P1 Jr. – at only $119. Tony will start a review of the new, 2nd generation InFocus interactive projector, the IN3916 projector.
Though I was hoping to work in some other projectors before tackling another Epson, an 8700UB arrived at my door yesterday, and went into my theater last night. It literally is sitting on top of the Epson 8350 projector who’s projector review posted about a week ago. I’ll just say this for now. The 8350 projector, may have improved blacks compared to the older 8100, but it’s definitely not a match for the 8700UB. That should answer a huge question many of you have been waiting for. I was watching Iron Man 2 and switched from the 8350 to the 8700UB. The difference in black levels is still dramatic. End of that conversation for this blog.
People I’m still slowly writing about 3D. I’ve got to get a couple of short 3D focused reviews – actually more informational than review focused – since I’m not sure a real review is in order – considering the state of 3D and projectors in most segments – especially home. Those projectors include the LG CF3D, which is more commercial projector than home, but it is equipped with HDMI 1.4… and it is 3D. It works. The other is less a projector, than the Lightspeed system. Those guys seem way ahead of the curve compared to the other DLP projectors using active glasses, and their system… well, wait and read…
That said, I’m dying to get one of those 3D JVC’s in here, and, since I have a bit of content, I “can’t wait”.
Panasonic: Panasonic has had me stumped for quite some time, as to what’s going on this year. Panasonic reorganized back in April. My contacts simply haven’t been able to give me a good feel for what’s going to happen in home theater projector space, this fall. Finally, I have something informative to say. Yesterday I was told, one thing, I already knew – that the PT-AX200U projector is “end of life” that is, it’s going away. There is no announced replacement, and if one does surface, I’d be surprised (if still 720p), if it resembles the AX200U (that’ just a guess). They just put too many features into the PT-AX20u projector for it to compete price wise with the competition.
But, it’s the 1080p side of Panasonic that everyone’s wanting to know, and finally. Panasonic emailed me two important things, that I couldn’t be sure of till now: 1. Panasonic fully intends to continue to be a major player in home theater projectors, and; 2. Panasonic does have a new projector under development. (Best I can tell, it’s months away. I now suspect it may be announced at CES in January, but, that folks, is another guess. Want one more? Panasonic has always used Epson LCD panels in their home theater projectors, but it’s quite possible that Panasonic will go to Epson’s “R” reflective panels, or perhaps even DLP since they produce lots of DLP projectors on the education and business projector side. Regardless, though, the good news is that Panasonic says they want to continue to be a major competitor, and that means more choices. Amen to that.
Sony, as usual, is the hardest company to read, in terms of review units. With them, it’s “not yet, not yet”, with most requests, but on the other hand, they occasionally surprise me with. We can ship you one this week, just when I’ve given up hope for a while. Nothing from them yet.
Gamers and 3D’ers on a tight projector budget – I just received the Optoma $399 3D adapter, the Optoma XP8000, that will allow you to take HDMI 1.4 Blu-ray 3D from your (new) HDMI 1.4 player (or upgraded PS3 – hooray), and convert it to 3D that can be accepted, most likely by most of the lower priced 720p and WXGA 3D projectors (from Optoma, BenQ, and several others). Unlike big ticket 3D projectors like the new Sony and JVC projectors, those 720p projectors are mostly under $1000 – aimed at gamers – or the education market, but now can be real HD (ok 0nly 720p) 3D movie projectors. I’m excited, and have machines here to test. The Optoma XP8000 will make for a short, most likely one or two pages, but I hope to complete it this week, or during the move, next week. I could turn out to be a great new product, and offer additional 3D choices to many of us.
I’ll update when I have word on more for ya! Meantime, as I stated, the next mainstream home theater projector to be reviewed will the the Epson Home Cinema 8700UB – because it has arrived, and of course I’ll discuss, the non-identical twin, the Pro Cinema 9700UB projector at the same time. -art
Posted in 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, New Projector Reviews, News, Opinion | 28 Comments »
September 29th, 2010 Art Feierman
Comment by Projector Reviews staff:
This $399 device lets the owner of an Optoma 3D 720p projector, hook up to, say a Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.4a (needed by both player and projector to view movies in the Blu-ray 3D standard). The box not only handles the scaling of the 1080p image down to the 720p for the projector, but translates the HDMI 1.4a for the projector.
Posted in 3D Projectors, Blu-ray | 4 Comments »
June 16th, 2010 Art Feierman
3D Projectors were in abundance at Infocomm. Most of these were small “business” projectors aimed, first at the K-12 Classroom market. Although most of the new 3D projectors announced Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Games and Gaming, 3D Movies, 3D Projectors, Blu-ray, Home Theater Projector issues | 20 Comments »
